The weight of the sapphire ring on Faith's finger felt like a lead weight, yet it buzzed with a strange, protective warmth. After the whirlwind of the previous night,
the revelation of her mother's journals and Killian's sudden, desperate "promotion" of her to Official Consort. Faith expected to be locked away in the manor for her safety.
Instead, Killian had looked her in the eye and said, "You are a Nightshade now. Hide for no one."
So, here she was. The sleek black car pulled up to the North Elite Academy, but this time, the driver didn't just drop her at the curb. He stepped out, stood at attention, and opened the door for her as if she were royalty.
As Faith stepped onto the gravel, the usual morning chatter of the elite shifters died instantly. All eyes landed on her hand as she adjusted her backpack. The sapphire caught the morning sun, throwing brilliant blue sparks across the pavement.
"Is that….a Nightshade Crest?" a girl whispered, her voice trembling with envy.
Faith didn't look at them. She headed straight for the library, but she was cut off before she reached the steps. Maya stood there, with her usual pack of cronies. Maya's face was a mask of pure, ugly envy and disbelief.
"Where did you steal that, Dud?" Maya hissed, pointing at the ring. you must think wearing a piece of glass makes you one of us? You're a maid. A charity case.
Faith stopped. Usually, she would have looked at the floor and waited for the storm to pass. But she remembered the way Killian had looked at her when he put that ring on her finger. She remembered that she wasn't just a "Dud", she was the daughter of the Architects.
Faith stepped closer, forcing Maya to take a step back.you wish it was just glass Maya but It's a Consort ring. And according to the laws of the North, it means if you touch me, you aren't just bullying a 'Dud'—you will be declared an enemy of the Blackwood Pack. Do you really want to explain to your father why his land leases were canceled this morning?"and by the way Maya I can be anything else but wanting to be you or any of you? That's a curse!
Maya's amber eyes flared, but she didn't move. She was trapped, and she knew it. The crowd of students began to titter, the power dynamic shifting in real-time.
"Nice try, Faith," Maya sneered, trying to save face. "But a ring doesn't give you an aura. You're still empty inside."
"And yet,Faith said, a small, dangerous smile playing on her lips you are so threatened by a girl that is empty inside, and that empty girl? Is the one with the Alpha's keys. Move."
Maya stepped aside, her face twisting with rage.
"That was incredible."
Faith turned to see the boy from her first day. Leo. He was a quiet Beta with messy auburn hair and a kind face that didn't hold the usual predatory edge of the other students. He had been the only one to show her where the advanced tech labs were on her first day when everyone else was busy tripping her in the halls.
"You've got mad guts," Leo said, walking beside her as they headed toward the library. "Most people would have fainted if Maya cornered them like that."
"I'm tired of being afraid, Leo," Faith admitted, the adrenaline finally starting to fade.
"Well… for what it's worth, I think the ring looks better on you than it would on any of them," he said with a shy grin. Want to hang out? I'm hiding from Strategic Tactics, and I hear you're the only person in this school who actually understands the Lunar Grid equations."
For the rest of the day, Faith felt a strange sensation: normalcy. She and Leo spent their breaks in the back of the library, whispering about ancient architecture and coding languages. He didn't treat her like a servant or a trophy. He treated her like a friend.
"You know," Leo said as the final bell rang, "people say the Nightshades are cold. But if Killian gave you that ring to protect you from the Council hearing….maybe he's not as heartless as the rumors say."
"I'm honestly still trying to figure that out myself," Faith whispered.
As they walked toward the gates, the tension returned. Maya and her group were waiting by the exit, clearly planning a second round of harassment now that the teachers were gone. They moved to surround Faith and Leo.
"Think you're safe because the sun is up?" Maya growled, her claws beginning to lengthen. "The ring won't save you in the dark, Dud."
Suddenly, the heavy roar of a high-performance engine cut through the air. A convoy of three black armored SUVs drifted around the corner, stopping with military precision in front of the gates.
Six massive bodyguards in Nightshade uniforms stepped out, forming a human corridor. The lead guard approached Faith and bowed low.
"Consort Faith," the guard said, his voice loud enough for the entire school to hear. "Alpha Nightshade requested we escort you home immediately. The stylists are waiting. The Gala begins in three hours."
Faith looked at Maya, whose jaw was practically touching the pavement. She turned to Leo and squeezed his hand. "See you tomorrow, Leo. Thanks for being my friend."
Be careful tonight, Faith, Leo said, his eyes momentarily flashing a strange, deep violet that she didn't recognize. "The Gala is a dangerous place for a masterpiece."
Faith stepped into the car, the door clicking shut with a heavy, expensive sound. As the convoy sped away, she looked in the rearview mirror at the shrinking figure of Leo. She didn't know why, but she felt like she had just found her first real ally in a world of dangerous wolves.